National Republican., 1887-09-22
MOTHER-OF-PEARL.
Tho Fisheries In the Red Sea and Their
Product,

The Vienna commercial journal, DaS Hun
del, Museum, says that mother ,f-pearl
fishing ia carried on all over the Red Sea
from the north down to the Gulf Of Alden,
but the best fishing grounds are in the
neighborhood of Suakin, Massowah, and
the Farsan Islands. The fishing fleet
consists OF about 300 boats. mostly
belonging to the Zobeid Bedouins, tribe
inhabitipg the coast between Jeddah
and Yambo. About fifty belong to Jeddah,
and others to other localities, They are
open boats, Of from eight to twenty tons
burden, with one latcen sail. The crew
varies from eight to twelve men. There
are two different fishing seasons, one Of
four and the other Of eight months, and
during these the boats remain almost con-
stantly at sea, except for a few weeks.
The crew, consisting In great part OF black
slaves, receive two-thirds Of the catch, de-
ductioDs being made for their food; the
owners of the boat keep the other
third, Accidents are seldom heard of, and
the divers are remarkable for their physical
vigor and robust health. They range In
age between 10 and 40 and the work seems
to do them no harm. The fishing grounds
are In the neighborhood of coral reefs,
where the boats are anchored; the divers
then go out in small canoes, especially i'm
ported from the Malabar coast for the pur-
pose, and Degiu their work all round. lt Is
necessary that the sea should be calm, other
wise the shells cannot be seen.
For some years past the negroes have
been in the habit Of using old tin cauisters,
with glass iD the bottom, TO enable them
to see better. In the course of the past ten
years the catch has fallen, but by reason of
the increased price good aud bad shells
have met with a ready. sale. TIE annu II
production varies from Sl2O,000 To $l7O,
600. During the last season OF four
months It reached only S25, 900,
against $4,000 to $4,000 In the
corresponding periods of other years.
Jeddah was formerly the sole market, hut
ON account of the customs officials there
the port only receives about a quarter Of
the catch now, the rest going to Suakin aud
Massowah. Pearls to tue value OF 81, 900 or
5000 are found annually; but this estimate
Is uncertain, as the larger aud more valua-
BILE ones are sold secretly.
The mother-of-pearl shells are sold at
public auction In Jeddah in lots of about
fifty pounds. Ten years ago all that came
on the market ut Jeddah was shipped Oft In
Arab vessels to Suez, whence 1t was sent to
Cairo, where 1t was sold. At present the
| greater part Is sent to Trieste, the rest GO
Ing to Havre aud London. The largest nd
most perfect and beautiful shells are pur-
chased by traders from Bethlehem, who
take them home and cut them aud
sell them to pilgrins. Jeddsh shells
are less valued In Europe thau
those OF Suakin and Massowah because OF
their yellow tiuye. In an ordinary lot OF
| sh lis, as sold In the market, per cent
| will be large, 90 per cent medium sized 81
per cent small medium, 10 per cent sm,l
% per cent dead or cracked, and per cent
| will consist of impurities aud eoraloii mar
| BILE. Some years since German attempted
| pearl fishing with feet manned by Greeks
but rs the experiment was never renewed
| 1t Is to be presumed that IL was a failure.